Established by the European Commission on Agriculture at its Fourteenth Session (1965, Resolution ECA 8/65), under the name ECA Working Party on Home Economics. With the gradual recognition of the important role of farm and rural women in the socio-economic development of rural communities, the Twelfth FAO Regional Conference for Europe held in Athens in 1980 (see Report, para 77) decided to change the party's title to the "Working Party on Women and the Agricultural Family in Rural Development". The change to its present name was recommended at the Seventh Session of the WPW (Athens, 1994) and approved at the Thirtieth Session of the ECA (Nitra, 1997).

Encourage the exchange of information and experience with a view to promoting the role of women and the family in agriculture and rural development;

promote and encourage the professional development of rural women;

cooperate with institutions and agencies striving for the integration of women in rural development,

and formulate policy recommendations on matters pertaining to education, research, extension, training and other related fields within their areas of technical competence.

Membership

Open to all Members of the European Commission on Agriculture. The Board of the Working Party, composed of representatives of seven Member Nations (elected at sessions), expedites follow-up activities and acts as an Advisory Committee between sessions.